Extensible toilet tissue roll holder

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for adapting existing wall mounted toilet tissue support fixtures of the type having opposed, inwardly facing roll support sockets to receive toilet tissue rolls of larger than standard diameter. The apparatus includes extensible support bars, the inner ends of which are mounted in existent fixtures, the outer ends of which receive the tissue roll, and strut means which may be variably positioned to enable the apparatus to be accommodated to varying dimensional characteristics of existing fixtures.

United States Patent [191 Linick [llll 3,834,636 1i Sept. 10, 1974EXTENSIBLE TOILET TISSUE ROLL HOLDER Inventor: Richard Linick, 62-1099th St.,

Rego Park, NY. 11374 Filed: Nov. 15, 1973 Appl. No.: 415,981

US. Cl. 242/552, 248/316 D Int. Cl B65h 19/00 Field of Search 242/552,55.3, 55.53;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/l93l 12/1949 l/l967 Frissell242/552 Batz 242/552 Turro 242/552 3,794,253 2/1974 Megdall 242/552Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mark T.Basseches; Paula T. Basseches [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for adaptingexisting wall mounted toilet tissue support fixtures of the type havingopposed, inwardly facing roll support'sockets to receive toilet tissuerolls of larger than standard diameter. The apparatus includesextensible support bars, the inner ends of which are mounted in existentfixtures, the outer ends of which receive the tissue roll, and strutmeans which may be variably positioned to enable the apparatus to beaccommodated to varying dimensional characteristics of existingfixtures.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures .aa4'.sss

PAIENIED SEP 1 01924 SHEET 2 OF 2 1 EXTENSIBLE TOILET TISSUE ROLL HOLDERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention is in the field of bathroom appliances, being directed moreparticularly to an adapter for permitting conventional toilet tissue orpaper towel dispensers to accommodate rolls of larger than standard sizewithout requiring removal of the existing support fittings.

2. The Prior Art Various mounting means for toilet tissue rolls areknown. Such mounting means in general incorporate a support rod or thelike, typically an expansible support rod intended to fit within thecore of the toilet tissue roll. The mounting fixture for the rollusually includes a spaced pair of opposed sockets, the tissue roll beingmounted by compressing the spring biased rod and permitting the rod toexpand after the ends thereof are in registry with the inwardly facingsockets.

It has been determined that for reasons of economy and convenience, theuse of large diameter toilet tissue rolls is preferable to the roll sizein current use. Among the advantages inhering in the use of larger rollsare a decrease in the frequency of roll changes required, reducedoverall cost due to the fact that it is less expensive to fabricate andpackage one large roll than two or more smaller rolls containing thesame quantity of paper.

Despite the known advantages of large rolls, the same have made nosignificant inroads into the market, due largely to the fact that suchrolls cannot be mounted on extant support fixtures.

While it is of course feasible to provide special fixtures intended toaccommodate large rolls, it is anticipated that substantial salesresistance to removal of existing fixtures and substitution of newfixtures would be encountered.

The present invention may be summarized as directed to an extensionassembly for supporting oversize rolls of toilet tissue, paper toweling,etc., utilizing as the means for supporting the extension the existentfixture on which the toilet tissue of conventional size was mounted.

The conventional mounting means noted typically includes an opposed pairof sockets adapted to receive the distal ends of an expansible rod onwhich the tissue is mounted.

In accordance with the present invention, a pair of side bars areprovided, having on their inner ends plugs adapted to be received in theexisting sockets of the conventional tissue dispenser. Guide means areprovided between the bars, such as a nesting pair of telescopingmembers, which permit movement of the bars toward and away from eachother but prevent significant tilting movement of the bars. Spring meansare provided for separating the bars so that the plugs will be outwardlysprung into the sockets.

The device is characterized by support strut members, on the barsextending angularly upwardly and downwardly from the bars toward thewall surface above and below the sockets, the struts preventing tiltingmovement of the bars and, hence, of the roll relative to the wall.

It is an important feature of the invention that the extension apparatusis rendered universal by providing for an adjustment of the strut meanssuch that the extension may be adapted for use with existing fixturesockets, notwithstanding the amount of inset of the socket from thevertical wall surface may vary from instance to instance.

The device may employ struts which are yieldingly biased against thewall surface or which are angularly adjustable through a variety ofincluded angular positions, to provide the desired type fit and support.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a universalextension member for supporting over-size toilet tissue or paper towelrolls, the extension member being adapted to be received in the socketsof toilet tissue dispenser fixtures notwithstanding dimensionalvariations in the manner in which such fixtures are installed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fixture of thetype described which may be readily accommodated to any of a number ofexisting tissue supports.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device of thetype described wherein the tissue roll may be readily changed.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tissue dispensing extension ready forinstallation in an existing fixture.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the dispensing extension andthrough a typical existing fixture, illustrating variations in thepositions of the parts when the device is accommodated to fixtures ofvarying dimensions.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a furtherembodiment of the invention.

As conducive to an understanding of the invention, there is shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 a conventional receiver fixture within which a roll oftoilet tissue is mounted. The wall W is typically recessed, as at 10,the recess including vertical parallel side walls l1, 12. The side wallshave formed therein a pair of opposed sockets S, S, which sockets, innormal use, receive the distal ends of an expansible tissue mountingrod. To mount the rod, the rod is compressed such that its length iscoextensive with the length of the tissue roll T, the rod being releasedwhen its ends are in registry with the sockets S, S to support the roll.When used with conventional sized rolls, the major portion of the rollis housed within the recessed portion of the fixture.

In accordance with the invention, the extension assembly 13 includes apair of parallel side bars 14, 15 of rigid material. The bars optionally"may be plastic or metal and include adjacent their inner ends l6, 17,respectively, outwardly directed stub shafts or plugs .18, 19,respectively. The diameter of the plugs l8, 19 is calculated so that thesame may be snugly received within the sockets S, S of the existinginstallation.

The extension apparatus 13 is provided with guide means for maintainingthe bars l4, 15 in parallel relation. To this end, and by way ofexample, a cylindrical member 20 is fixedly secured to the bar 15adjacent the outer end 21 thereof. The tubular culinder 20 includes aninner bore 22 within which is seated a coil spring 23.

A plunger member 24 extends through an aperture portion 25 in end plate26 of the cylinder member 20. The plunger 24 is provided with a headedportion 27 which is somewhat elongated in the direction of the axis ofthe plunger, the diameter of the headed section forming a close slidingfit with the bore 22 of the cylinder, as does the plunger 24 withaperture 25, such that only a limited tilting movement of the plungeraxis and cylinder axis is possible.

The spring 23 is biased between the head 27 and outer end portion 28 ofthe cylinder whereby the plunger is yieldingly pressed away from the end28.

The plunger 24 includes a reduced neck portion 29, releasibly securedwithin a receiver aperture 30 adja' cent the outer end 31 of the bar. Itwill be understood that by reason of the releasible connection of theportions 29 and 30, the bar 14 may be removed and a roll of toilettissue sleeved over the expansible plunger assembly.

Mounted to the bar 14 is a pair of support rods or struts 32, 33, theend portions 34, 35 thereof being fixed, to the bar 14 as by embeddmenttherein. The rods 32, 33 extend respectively angularly upwardly andangularly downwardly from the bar.

The distal ends 36, 37 are provided with anti-friction and non-marringtips, such as neoprene balls 38, 39, respectively.

Since the struts 32, 33 which are fixed to the bar 15 are identical tothe strut structure just described, further elaboration thereof will notbe made.

In accordance iwth a preferred embodiment, the struts 32, 33, 32, 33 aremade of resilient material, such as metallic spring stock, enabling therods to be bent along their longitudinal axes.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus is utilized by threadingor mounting a tissue roll over the cylinder and plunger assembly which,in the illustrated embodiments, functions both as a guide formaintaining parallelism of the bars 14 and 15, and as a supporter forthe tissue roll.

After mounting of the tissue, the bars 14, 15 are pressed inwardlyagainst the ends of the toilet tissue roll, the spacing of the inwardlypressed bars being reduced sufficiently to permit their insertion intothe recess until the plugs 18, 19 arein registry with the sockets S, S.In this position the bars are permitted to spring outwardly under thetension of the spring 23, whereupon the bars will be locked againstoutward removal from the recess.

By reason of the length of the bars 14, 15, the tissue roll T will beobserved to be mounted externally of the roll diameter restrictingrecess 10, whereby it will be understood that a substantially largerdiameter roll may be accommodated than could have been accommodatedwithin the recessed fixture.

In the mounted position the struts or rods 32, 33, 32, 33 will beobserved to have flexed slightly and be uniformly biased against thewall surface W, assuring that the bars 14, will not droop, withconsequent possibility of a frictional engagement of the roll peripheryagainst the wall or wall-adjacent portions of the recess 10.

For purposes of illustrating the versatility and adaptability of thedevice, there is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 a second pair of sockets S 8,representing a different installation in which the sockets have beenrecessed further from the wall surface W than sockets S, S. The

embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 is accommodated to such greater depthsockets S S without the necessity of adjustment or modification, by thefact that the rods 32, 32', 33, 33' merely assume a more bent or bowedconfiguration when the device is installed in the deeper sockets S SCompare solid lines to dot and dash line positions, FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a fragmentary view of an embodiment of theinvention in which like parts have been given like reference numerals.The embodiment of FIG. 4 differs from the previously describedembodiments in that the side bar 14 is longitudinally extensible and theincluded angle defined between the support rods or struts 32", 33" isadjusted by permitting a relative pivotal movement between these parts,as opposed to the purely flexing movement in the prior describedembodiment.

In accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 4, the side bar 14' (one onlybeing illustrated, the other being identical) includes a channel sectioncarrying a plug 18' for connection with the existing fixture at itsinner end. The channel section 40 includes a longitudinally directedslot 41. The channel section 40 is formed with an internal, generallyrectangular cross-sectional groove 42. A second section 43, forming anextension of the section 40, is provided, the cross-sectional dimensionsof the second 43 being such as to fit intimately within the groove 42 ofthe section 40.

The second section 43 may be slid longitudinally within the groove 42and includes a longitudinally extending slot 44 in alignment with theslot 41 of the section 40. A locking member 45 is provided with upperand lower shoulders 46, 47, spaced to correspond with the spacing of theledges 48, 49 of the section 40.

The struts 32", 33" surrounding the apertures 50, 51 are provided with aseries of notches 52 and grooves 53 extending radially from theapertures, the notches and grooves of the parts being readily meshed inany of a variety of angularly related positions, relative angularmovement of the parts in the meshed condition being positively preventedby engagement of the grooves and notches.

The device is used by sliding the section 43 to a desired longitudinalspacing within the bar section 40, passing the threaded portion 54 ofthe locking member 45 outwardly through the aligned grooves 41 and 44and the aligned apertures 50, 51 of the struts. The spacing of theextension and the angularity between the struts will be adjusted priorto tightening of the thumb nut 55, such that the struts provide thedesired bracing against the wall W and the sections to provide thedesired extension of the bar 14.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiment of FIG. 4 it is stilldesirable that a degree of resilience or springiness be incorporatedwithin the struts or rods.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the apparatus may beaccommodated for use with a wide variety of existing toilet tissuesupport fixtures. Once the embodiment of FIG. 4 is adjusted to size fora particular installation, it need not be varied, substitution of rollsbeing readily effected in the manner aforesaid.

It will be understood that variations may be made in the specificembodiments disclosed without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For instance, a second guide means may be interposed betweenthe bars, or spring and plunger guide means may be disposed in alignmentwith the socket engaging plugs at the inner ends of the bars. In thelatter case the tissue roll will be supported by inwardly facing stubshafts located at the outer ends of the bars. Accordingly, the inventionis to be broadly construed within the scope of the appended claims. 3

Having thus described the invention and illustrated itsuse, what isclaimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Universal apparatus for adapting existing wall mounted toilet tissuesupport fixtures of the type having opposed, inwardly facing rollsupport rod sockets to receive toilet tissue rolls of larger thanstandard diameter, comprising a pair of rigid, parallel extension bars,a mounting plug extending from the outer face of each said bar adjacentthe inner end thereof, said plugs being in coaxial alignment and sizedto fit within said sockets, complemental guide means formed on each saidbar slidably engaging the guide means of the other said bar forpermitting movement of said bars toward and away from each other whileholding said bars in parallel planes, spring means yieldably urging saidbars apart to force said plugs into said sockets, tissue roll supportmeans formed on said bars adjacent the outer ends thereof for rotatablysupporting the core of a tissue roll adjacent said outer ends, and strutmeans fixed to said bars and extending toward said wall, said strutmeans including end portions engaging said wall for supporting said barsessentially at a predetermined angular relation to the wall.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guide meanscomprise telescopically nested members and said spring means is disposedwithin one of said nested members.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said nested members arecylindrical and are mounted adjacent the outer ends of said supportbars, the outer surfaces of said cylindrical members defining saidtissue roll support means.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said strut meanscomprises a pair of support rods extending angularly from each of saidbars toward said wall, one rod of each pair engaging said wall at aposition above,

and the other rod engaging said wall at a position below said bar.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said rods are of springmaterial and are yieldably deflectible along their longitudinal axes.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the angularity of saidrods relative to said bars may be varied to accommodate differingspacings between said sockets and said wall.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and including an adjustableconnection interposed between said rods and said bars whereby theangularity of said rods relative to said bars may be selectively set inaccordance with the spacing between said sockets and said wall.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said bars are eachformed of two overlapping sections, the combination including lengthwiseadjusting means for adjusting the amount of overlap of said sections tovary the spacing between said mounting plugs and said roll supportmeans.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said adjustableconnection includes an aperture formed on the end of each said rodadjacent said bar, a threaded member extending through the apertures ofthe rodsof each pair, said threaded member clamping the rods of eachpair together to define therebetween a predetermined desired includedangle.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said rods of each saidpair include adjacent said apertures a plurality of meshing notch andgroove means engageable in any of a selected series of positions, theincluded angle between the rods of each pair being dependent upon themeshed position of said notch and groove means.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said threaded memberconnected to each pair of said rods extends through the overlappingsections of the bar to which it is attached, said threaded membersupporting said rods to said bars and clamping the bar sections togetherin a selected overlapping relation.

1. Universal apparatus for adapting existing wall mounted toilet tissue support fixtures of the type having opposed, inwardly facing roll support rod sockets to receive toilet tissue rolls of larger than standard diameter, comprising a pair of rigid, parallel extension bars, a mounting plug extending from the outer face of each said bar adjacent the inner end thereof, said plugs being in coaxial alignment and sized to fit within said sockets, complemental guide means formed on each said bar slidably engaging the guide means of the other said bar for permitting movement of said bars toward and away from each other while holding said bars in parallel planes, spring means yieldably urging said bars apart to force said plugs into said sockets, tissue roll support means formed on said bars adjacent the outer ends thereof for rotatably supporting the core of a tissue roll adjacent said outer ends, and strut means fixed to said bars and extending toward said wall, said strut means including end portions engaging said wall for supporting said bars essentially at a predetermined angular relation to the wall.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guide means comprise telescopically nested members and said spring means is disposed within one of said nested members.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said nested members are cylindrical and are mounted adjacent the outer ends of said support bars, the outer surfaces of said cylindrical members defining said tissue roll support means.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said strut means comprises a pair of support rods extending angularly from each of said bars toward said wall, one rod of each pair engaging said wall at a position above, and the other rod engaging said wall at a position below said bar.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said rods are of spring material and are yieldably deflectible along their longitudinal axes.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the angularity of said rods relative to said bars may be varied to accommodate differing spacings between said sockets and said wall.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and including an adjustable connection interposed between said rods and said bars whereby the angularity of said rods relative to said bars may be selectively set in accordance with the spacing between said sockets and said wall.
 8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said bars are each formed of two overlapping sections, the combination including lengthwise adjusting means for adjusting the amount of overlap of said sections to vary the spacing between said mounting plugs and said roll support means.
 9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said adjustable connection includes an aperture formed on the end of each said rod adjacent said bar, a threaded member extending through the apertures of the rods of each pair, said threaded member clamping the rods of each pair together to define therebetween a predetermined desired included angle.
 10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said rods of each said pair include adjacent said apertures a plurality of meshing notch and groove means engageable in any of a selected series of positions, the included angle between the rods of each pair being dependent upon the meshed position of said notch and groove means.
 11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said threaded member connected to each pair of said rods extends through the overlapping sections of the bar to which it is attached, said threaded member supporting said rods to said bars and clamping the bar sections together in a selected overlapping relation. 